Looking through the List of Probable Starters (who are all coming on well, and might therefore be called, in the quaint turf Italian, "_comeystarters_"), I cannot help feeling that this year the Blue Riband of the Turf will fall to the flower of the flock--as, indeed, it should. But if it does not, why, there are other really sound horses that are sure to give a good account of themselves. We may take it, that the winner will be out of the common. As the glorious animal passes the post, the cheers will be so deafening, that there will be a universal cry, "This must be ordinance!" As the fun of the Derby of late times has seen some revival, the hero of the hour will, _par excellence_, be the doll, which, in spite of many rivals, has never ceased to be popular. Not that the fun will be fast and furious--not at all; the days of the Mohawks are over, and I am, therefore, in a position to declare, that the day when it is past and gone, will be appropriately called a dorcas meeting. And this I can say with the less hesitation as I rely on the power of a deemster. To everyone the occasion will be pleasant, both to wise men and persons of a simple sort; to adopt the words of the historical Pieman, "for this meeting fits Simon." And here let me remark, that I am an enthusiastic admirer of the perambulating gentleman who outwitted the pastie purchaser; in fact, "I go solid for the Simonian." If the field is dusty on the morning of the race, it will be following precedent. When I think of the Derby, I cannot help remembering HENRY THE EIGHTH, for it was to hold the Field of the Cloth of Gold that that eminent monarch had to raise the dust. Well might FRANÇOIS PREMIER have observed (as I do), "_Bravo, Gouverneur!"_ If DICKENS's naval hero, the Captain whose words were always worth "making a note of," were to use the belt of Orion as a support in a sea of trouble, I should applaud his wisdom. In fact, I should observe, that the occasion was worthy of the Cuttle's tone. And now to come to business. For after all, what I have written above is merely a hint to those who require no telling. A prophet to be believed must be mysterious. But that the simplest understanding may comprehend, I give my final tip. Here it is. This year's Derby will be won by one of two. It will either fall to the Favourite or--the Field! * * * * * OPERATIC NOTES. _Tuesday, May_ 19.--With pleasant recollections of MARIE ROZE and BARTON McGUCKIN, and, as I think, a Mr. SCOBELL playing the swaggering relative, I went to see _Manon_, at Covent Garden, Miss SIBYL SANDERSON being the Heroine, and M. VAN DYCK the Hero. [Illustration: _M. Van Dyck des Grieux et Mlle. Manon Sanderson._ (_Ensemble._) "Nous irons au Guildhall!" _M. Van D._ "Voilà la voiture du Lor' Maire, grace à M. Le Sheriff Druriolanus." _Manon_. "Comme il est gentil! Je n'attendais qu'un '_Van_.'"]